In My Mailbox (32)

Idea taken from The Story Siren


Some new cool books laid in my mailbox this week :)


Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.


Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.

Her new summer job comes with baggage.

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.


Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag.

A story of four American teens in Paris... and the scandal that leads one girl to disappear.

This sparkling novel reveals exactly how it feels to be a teen in love, in angst, in a big, gorgeous, unfamiliar city. Fall in love with the elusive model-gorgeous PJ, on the run from a mysterious past. Or Olivia, a hardworking ballerina whose fall from grace—both literal and figurative—lands her in the arms of the wrong boy. Witness the melodrama of jaded but beautiful Alex, whose seductions will never fill the void left by her father. Finally, let fun-loving Zack warm your heart with his vulnerability and sweet Memphis accent.

On their own for the first time, these kids go wild in Paris. But when PJ disappears, the others must face the lies they've told and the secrets they've kept in order to help find her.

Three lovely books that I've been after for a while. It's such a cool thing to have Hush Hush after all these weeks. I can't wait to read it, but then, I think I should save it for later. I also love my copy of Beautiful Americans, which happened to be a hardcover. Gotta get to this one fast so I can have a look at Wanderlust soon.

Thanks Sara from Penguin, Becca and her editor at S&S and Carrie for sending me these books.


So what have you got? I want to know if anyone get Tenners books :D

Sunday Special (29) Fanart covers for Sarah Dessen books

If you're a member of Sarah Land, you know that since June we've have one or more challenges with coolest prizes ever. This month it is all about creating an advertisements for one of the books. Participators can either take a photo, create a video or make a widget and the likes since there's no limitation of how far your creativity can go. It's so fun that I cannot stay on the side. I wasn't really creative or talented enough so I chose to make some fanart covers. I'm gonna share them with you guys today : )

Just Listen (hardcover edition)

Along For The Ride (Paperback edition)



The Truth About Forever (Paperback edition)



This Lullaby (Paperback edition)

What do you think? They're not that great but I love making these because it's entertaining. I found out a lot more about the books, especially the quotes that are beyond beauty. My favorite of this batch is This Lullaby. The picture was taken by my friend's cousin and it happened to fit the story exactly. And don't you just love the lyrics? I kinda hope I win this month because the luckiest one will get a complete set of Sarah Dessen books in hardcovers. If not, it's okay too. I gained a lot and lost nothing already.


By the way, if you want to partake in this challenge, there are still two more days to submit your entries. So hurry up!

Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy

Publisher: Penguin Australia
Pub. Date: 27 April 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 228
Format: paperback
Source of copy: from publisher - Penguin Aus

The new bestseller from teen queen Cathy Cassidy.

Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she once belonged.

Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He's no angel, but she's sure there's a sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realizes she's not alone - how can Dan be such bad news when being with him feels like heaven?


I finished Angel Cake in three hours. It was fast, simple, one for readers who love happily-ever-after kind of books. Want to take a break from painfully realistic stories? This one will make a good cheer-upper.

The book was inspired by one of Cathy Cassidy's fans whose family left to settle down in a new country. The story followed Anya from Polish to England where she found her visualization of a whole lovely life turn out to be nothing but a dull picture: her father's business was going down, the teachers thought she was clueless, her schoolmates considered her something fun to look at. Added to that was the fact that Anya was falling for the mysterious boy Dan - who, for a second, could be amazingly sweet, and the next one, more indifferent than ever. There was nothing new but because it came from a real experience, Anya's story felt close and easy to take in.

Frank to say, I wasn't very impressed with Angel but I don't have any problems with the story either. The only weakness of this book, in my opinion, was that the characters were typical. They reminded me of other characters I've encountered in other books, that was why I didn't feel the need to read on anymore sometimes. Anya was a sweet, adorable kid but the fact that she was too naive and meek put me off. Lily, the mean girl, was too familiar - spiteful comments, bullying actions, deceiving plots weren't enough to make her strong or remarkable. The only one that stood out must be Dan, thanks to his inconsistency.

Regardless of that flaw, I enjoyed this book to a degree because it was so cute. Every, even the crisis, seemed very light-hearted. Angel Cake would be a good choice for winter books because it made me feel very warm inside. Too good to be true as it was, the story helped lighten the readers' views of life - that miracles happen sometimes and anyone can be an angel, even if it's a icy guy who sets fire on his notebook and hangs out with a bunch of bad ones.

Recommended to fans of everything-will-be-okay-in-the-end novels.


Rating: 3/5

Living On Impulse by Cara Haycak

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: August 2009
Age Range: 12 and up
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from publisher - Penguin US

Mia Morrow is impulsive, plain and simple. While her friends are concerned with grades and colleges, Mia would rather focus on the things that make her happy— like chasing boys or snatching something off a department store shelf. No big deal, right? But then Mia gets caught shoplifting, and her thoughtless behavior doesn't just push her friends away, it gets her into a lot of trouble, too. In this eye-opening tale of friendships, family, and negative impulses, Cara Haycak subtly shows that the power to heal is within all of us, and it almost always starts with forgiveness.



I don't want to say it but this book is suitable for a slow read - one that you can put down any moment to do something else because the story can hardly stay on your mind for long. Living On Impulse held a a nice storyline, too bad it wasn't enough to make the whole book a successful one.

Mia Morrow was a somewhat rebellious girl who took actions before she could even think. There was something in her that drove the girl to do all the risky and wild things and there came the trouble. Caught shoplifting a single sandal one day, Mia's life was totally changed when her Mom forced her to apply for a job as a punishment. Everything that happened later gave her a new view about her life: her Mom, her Grandpa, her friends and herself. The arrangement sounded very hopeful and I did expect this story to turn out better than how it looked (sorry, but the cover is boring).

The thing that didn't allow me to get myself engrossed into this book was the fact the outline of the scenes. For example, Mia's process of stealing, which I considered worth being thrilled about, was so short the readers would barely feel any excitement or fear for the girl at all; whereas some uninteresting parts just went on and on. So many times I found myself wondering when is it going to be great? I also had issues with the characters. I felt indifferent to them, no connection at all. I did feel bad for Mia sometimes, like when she was ditched by her friends but that was it. Even occasionally she even appeared not impulsive enough for me. Also, I hated Gael and Michelle really much. What kind of friends they were to judge Mia all the time, looking down on her as if she was nothing good at all. Besides, not as much important, but Mia calling her Mom by the name was a little odd to me, even though the book was told in third respective.

In spite of having all those flaws, Living On Impulse did have something that the readers might like. There was a lot on fly experiment and it could help you look at those insects with a totally new attitude. The rebellion of Mia on the night she met Clancy did draw my attention for a while and. Her relationship with her Mom got better near the end, I mean the description, the flow and whatnot.

Basically Living On Impulse is an alright read. Even if it's not my type of book, don't let that stop you from picking it up. You may like the story better than I did, who knows?


Rating: 2.5/5

Waiting On Wednesday (28)

Idea taken from Breaking The Spine

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti.

There's no synopsis for this book yet but here's what Susane said about the book in an interview at Bookluver Carol's Reviews. Nothing much, but at least it gives us a clue of what the story is about.

Right now I’m revising my fourth book, Something Like Fate, which should be released next year. As usual, at the heart of the book is a story about soul mates. The book examines ideas of fate, energy, and how much control we actually have over our lives. I’ve also started my fifth and sixth books.

Reasons why I'll do anything to get an early copy of this book:

1. Judging from the cover the story has something to do with triangle and if you read my blog often you'll know that I have a obsession with triangles. Hopefully there'll be no unacceptable cheatings or else it'll drive me crazy.
2. It's Susane Colasanti's work. Do I have to say more? I wasn't really satisfied with Take Me There but I really adore her writing. It's simple, cute but meaningful too.
3. Cute cover~!!! Susan Colasanti books along with Elizabeth Scott ones always have the cutest covers don't you agree?


What does fate look like? Find out on May 13rd 2001

In My Mailbox (31)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

Some books have just been added to my narrow shelf and here they are...


An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green.

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washedup child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy—loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.


The Lost Summer by Kathryn Wiliams.

"I died one summer, or I almost did. Part of me did. I don't say that to be dramatic, only because it's true."

For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.


Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern.

Based on Halpern's (Toby and the Snowflakes) experiences, this first novel begins as a run-of-the-mill story about a 16-year-old girl's short stint in a suburban Chicago psychiatric hospital: think sterile hallways, dysfunctional group therapy sessions and foul-mouthed, pissed-off adolescents who have been committed against their will. Before long, however, it evolves into an upbeat story that offers a hype-free, realistic look inside a teen ward. The narrator, Anna Bloom, actually enjoys Lakeland by the end of her stay. She feels more confident in her thinned-out body (although her loss of 12 pounds in 11 days seems a stretch), has opened up to her peers and even had a reciprocated crush on the lanky boy down the hall-none of which would have befallen the pre-Lakeland Anna. The talk about kissing and playing cards could make some forget they're reading about time spent at the loony bin, as Anna sometimes calls it, but Halpern balances these sorts of discussions with Anna's reactions to fellow patients who hear voices or claim to worship "the Dark Lord" and to rules forbidding all physical contact.


Into The Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie develops the self-confidence to dump her selfish friends and ventures into unfamiliar territory to find new ones in this often hilarious, quirky work of contemporary realism. When her two best friends turn poseur-punk to impress her brother's friend Van, Jessie is left wondering where she, a math star, audiobook addict and accomplished seamstress, fits in. As their rift deepens, Jessie discovers that a group of Dungeons & Dragons-playing peers are not as socially inept as she once might have thought and loses herself in a crush on a sweet, if fashion-challenged, guy at school. The overarching message about being oneself and growing apart from friends is familiar teen-novel territory, and there is never any real doubt as to the end of Jessie's journey.



They look cool aye? This week is a good one for me since I got the books that I'd been waiting forever to get my hands on. I'm not sure which one I want to read most. An Abundance Of Katherines? Heard so many fabulous comments on John Green's writing. The Lost Summer? Just my type of book. Get Well Soon & Into The Wild Nerd Yonder? Too cute to resist!

Thanks Kathryn, Julie and Erin from Penguin Aus for these babies *hugs and kisses*

So what have you got? Which book will you read first?


P.S It is very off topic but I cannot wait to post about this. Check out Living Your Five - an amazing site launched by four amazing authors that you all love to win books and stuff while saving the world. What could be better? Go there RIGHT NOW!

Sunday Special (28) Book Blogger Appreciation Nominations or Thank You So Much :)

We all know that the past few days were quite hectic for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week committee because it was the nominations week. Lots of emails have been sent out various bloggers notifying them the categories their online-homes were nominated under. Guess what? Serene Hours was one among those lucky blogs too. I was super duper thrilled to receive not one but two nominations. One for Best Writing and the other Best New Blog. Since I don't think my writing is amazing enough to fit the first category, I did withdraw. But I have submitted my 5 favorite posts for Best New Blog ^^

Well I have no ideas who nominated me but if you're reading this post, I just want to say thank you so much. It has been a honor to be under the same categories with lots and lots of cool bloggers that I adore and the mere fact of being nominated makes me feel like I've already won something special. And of course thank you all, my lovely readers for sticking with me through thick and thin and inspiring me. I owe you guys a lot :)

I decided to also do the BBAW for fun

1. What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

Not one but tons. Book blogging opened a whole new world to me where I can find fellow book lovers, awesome authors as well as remarkable publishers and publicists. I'm more up to date about the books and I have a chance to share my thoughts and emotions on the stories without being stopped even though sometimes I overdo it. I feel more happy, energetic and constantly inspired.

2. What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

Kristi was the one who inspired me so much with her blog that I just had to create my own. Lenore and Chelsea helped me a lot with the preparations for Serene Hours. They encouraged me and explained to me every single detail that I was clueless about, making the idea of being someone new less stressful or scary. They are extremely friendly too.

I also love Steph and Jenny who happen to be my early and regular readers. Their sweet comments brighten my every day. They're both new this year but both have gone a long way with their blogs. I'm happy and proud of them.

3. What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

To tell the truth I don't really know *smiles*. I guess what I want to know most about at this moment is how difference BBAW this year from last year and how it felt to be nominated/to win. In addition, I'm curious about how the committee works with a huge bunch of awards and stuff. Well, that's a lot of questions.


To end this entry, thanks lot again for the nominations and I hope BBAW this year will be a success. Have fun~!

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pub. Date: August 2009
Age range: Young Adult
Pages: 336pp
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from publisher - Disney Hyperion

Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.

Presenting Concerns:

The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots).

Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.

Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?

Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive.

Diagnosis:

Psych Major Syndrome


Are you fond of psychology? Are you the type to analyze everyone you come across? Or simply think too much all the time? Guess what? You might have just found your fictional soulmate who happened to be the main character of Psych Major Syndrome. Following Leigh's college days, the book was a perfect choice for self-ascertainment and full life-enjoyment.

The layout of Psych Major Syndrome was very original. I didn't think it was done on purpose but the ARC version looked like a psych patient file which just sucked me right into the story. Each and every chapter started with a psychological concept and even though some were not really familiar or easy to comprehend, they were so fun to look at. You know what was more fun? That the concept fitted with the content of the chapter so well. It was praise-worthy because I'm sure it took a lot of time and effort from the author to do such a thing.

The story to me, wasn't the kind where one huge problem was set up to solved so everything could end up nicely. It combined quite a lot of things that played important rolew on a teenager's life: study, future goal, boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, family. Thus, it felt very natural and delightful. You don't have to focus on one issue only but have the chance to take in other details. Alicia Thompson did a good job of balancing parts of Leigh's life and her writing was great. It was mind-probing yet would make the readers feel comfortable still.

I have a lot to say about Leigh. She was such an outstanding character. I liked the way she analyzed everything and everyone that she encountered. Sometimes she had a lot of thoughts that I couldn't catch up with. She was also a fun and silly one. Her not-so-hilarious acts had me either laugh or chuckle. That was one of the reasons why I was so eager to tag along with her throughout the story. And despite how uptight and clueless sometimes she was, she didn't lack strength or confidence.

Aside from Leigh, I also liked Nathan. Such a sweet guy! The way he expressed his feelings to Leigh was adorable. Seriously, how could you not love someone who recognized every little thing you do? His grumpiness was something that added to the cuteness. I don't usually go for shy guys but hell this one was too cool. And Andrew, what could I say about him? Definitely the biggest jerk. But don't you agree that jerks make stories more interesting?

To sum up, Psych Major Syndrome was a likeable read that I recommend you to pick up as soon you as you can. Hopefully you'll enjoy watching Leigh figuring out the real problems of her life and how to solve them all - let loose and take the changes when needed - just as much as I did.

Rating: 4/5

Sleepless by Terri Clark

Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: September 2008
Age Range: 12 and up
Pages: 288
Format: paperback
Source of copy: from author - Terri Clark

The swaying Palms Hotel late-night room-service menu

Tuck-Me-In Tuna Salad on Rye $7.50
Catch-Some-ZZZs Cheeseburger and Fries $10.00
Up-All-Night Chocolate-Chip Cookies with Milk $5.50
Bedtime Banana Split $7.00

I can't go to sleep!!! And not because of the cute boy lying next to me. There's a killer stalking me in my dreams. And if it's up to him . . . I'll never wake up. I have to find a way to get him, before he gets me.

Sleepless was a remarkable novel that will please fans of thriller and romance abide. It was fast-paced, mysterious and also, really sweet.

The story was a bout Trinity, a teenager who had the ability of seeing the happenings and talking to people through her dreams. Lucky wasn't she? Not quite. This special thing kept her from living her life in a normal way and got her involved in so many unexpected depressions. For example, being chased in her dreams by a killer who she'd helped arrest earlier. Trinity's run to rescue herself was also the journey to self-adaption and finding true love. Everything blended into each other perfect, creating a page turner book that you'd love to pick up.

The premise of Sleepless was good. From the very first moment you laid your eyes of the synopsis you wouldn't be able to shake the curiosity off. I enjoyed it. Reading about the murders and the stalkers was fun, but the psychic and scientific factors took it to the next level. The story seemed complicated, then again, the whole thing was simple. I quite liked the fact that the author didn't beat around the bush at all. The adventure began at chapter two and trust me, you'd have much time to relax starting from that point.

For the characters, Trinity was a very likable one. Nice, straight forward, someone will fight for justice till the very end even though it'd push her into jeopardy. Her personalities radiated clearly at the last few chapters through the actual fights with the killer. Readers just have to love the actions in this book. There weren't a lot but all were well-done. How about the romance? Cute and reasonable. The two seemed to fall in love faster than expected but it was a matter of life and death so I guess we could all tolerate that.

At large, Sleepless was a delightful read. If there was anything to complain it must be the fact that the secondary characters had very little appearance. The story was just about Trinity and Dan, and therefore, felt "lonely" sometimes.

Rating: 3.5/5

Waiting On Wednesday (27)

Idea taken from Breaking The Spine.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog.

Eron DeMarchelle spent seventeen years on earth before his death in 1908. Now, he’s part of another world that invisibly coexists with earth. He is what humans call in their bedtime stories a “Sandman,” and his only purpose is to seduce them to sleep night after night. This dull, meaningless existence wears on him until he falls for the one girl he cannot seduce, a human named Julia. He conspires with his oldest friend, the princess Chimere, to find a way to be with the object of his affection forever. But even the most carefully made plans sometimes have unexpected consequences . . .



Sleepless drives me crazy because:
1. It's written by Cyn Balog and although I wasn't lucky enough to get my hands on Fairy Tale, I heard nothing but compliments on it so another book from the great author? Definitely something I have to watch out for.
2. I like the idea of the sandman. Seducing people to sleep night after night sounds kinda purposeless and silly but it's still compelling don't you think? It's dark and hawt.
3. Forbidden romance. Who doesn't love forbidden romance?


Get some sleep cause you'll be sleepless in spring 2010.

In My Mailbox (30)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

I was supposed to have a Sunday Special post up yesterday but I hung out at my cousin's house from dawn to dust I totally forgot. My bad. I'll try to make it up to you later. Anyway here are the books I got last week.



Lock And Key by Sarah Dessen.

Ruby is used to taking care of herself. But now she's living in a fancy new house with her sister Cora—a sister she hasn't seen in ten years—and her husband Jamie—creator of one of the most popular online networking sites. She's attending private school, wearing new clothes, and for the first time, feels the promise of a future that include college and her family. So why is she so wary? And what is Nate— the adorable and good-hearted boy next door— hiding behind his genial nature? As Ruby starts to see, there's a big difference between being given help, and being able to accept it. And sometimes, in order to save yourself, you've got to reach out to someone else.


The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy.

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother… Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret girl power society dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of. … be careful what you wish for. Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself. What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?


Angel Cake by Kathy Cassidy.

The new bestseller from teen queen Cathy Cassidy.

Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she once belonged.

Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He's no angel, but she's sure there's a sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realizes she's not alone - how can Dan be such bad news when being with him feels like heaven?




Cute books aren't they? I was most happy to receive The Cinderella Society because it's a 2010 title :) So far it's been my second 2010 book so I'm extremely excited about it. I won it from Kay Cassidy contest and she also sent me a note and a postcard, her handwriting is breathtaking, I'll show you soon. Angel cake is a book by an Australian author and it seems really nice. Lock and Key is too familiar I don't think I need to elaborate.

Hugs and kisses to Kay and Erin for sending me these lovely babies. ilu


Have another book-filled week~!

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: March 2008
Age Range: 12 and up
Pages: 336
Format: paperback
Source of copy: from publisher - S&S US

It is summer in the Northwest town of Nine Mile Fails, and sixteen year old Ruby McQueen , ordinary dubbed The Quiet Girl, finds herself hangng ouy with gorgeous, rich, thrill- seeking Travis Becker. But Ruby is in over her head and starts risking more and more when she's with him.

In an effort to keep Ruby occupied, Ruby's mother, Ann, drags her to the weekly book club she runs. When it is discovered that one of the group's own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading. Ann and Ruby spearhead a reunion between the long ago lovers. But for Ruby, this mission turns out to be much more than just a road trip...


I'm not going to lie. It's really hard reviewing this book as well as rating it. Honey Baby Sweetheart just tore me apart. With its amazing parts knitting with the not-so-interesting moments, the book makes it quite impossible to decide whether it's a outshining or just an okay book.

First, let me start with what I love about the novel.

The tone of the narrator is exquisitely calm and collected. Fans of Sarah Dessen, like me, will definitely get absorbed into the story once Ruby voices. Everything just flowed slowly, step by step helped us discovers the characters and their hardships. Even anger and frustration were depicted elegantly; not once did I feel anything heavy at all. Also, there were a lot description and telling throughout the book, the majority of which was nicely written. Readers can also find a lot of hidden messages through random details - it surprised me that Deb Caletti delivered her thoughts in such a cool way, I bet lots of authors want to do the same thing as well.

My favorite of Honey Baby Sweetheart was the first few chapters where Ruby introduced everything about herself: her family, her routine, her incident that labeled her The Quiet Girl among the kids at school. The best thing off all was the union with her father. It made me feel as if I was living with the story and experienced every single ounce of the characters' thoughts and emotions. I was happy, I was mad, I was depressed in spite of not having encountered anything these people had to go through. I also loved Ruby's story of how she became a normal girl to one who didn't know what her true qualities were. It was real, like it could happen to any of us here without our realization. The matter of finding one's self could never get old and it became more complicated once someone stepped into the picture and gave Ruby the adjectives of her own personalities and she started to see herself the way he did.

What's more to look out for? The secret love of the author and one of the book club members. I thought it was really beautiful, it was pure, unexpected and wore the color of a classic book which fitted the mood of the story well.

Honey Baby Sweetheart had so many good points right? So how could it possibly make me feel doubtful?

Because at some chapters of the story fell pretty dull. You know, too much monologue and not enough of dialogue could kill any good stories. I had to skip a few parts even though I didn't want to. Moreover, having said that I did feel the excitement, Honey Baby Sweetheart still didn't satisfy my hope of a snapping point. There was a climax but it felt not much different from other parts.

I also had a few problems with the characters. First the bad boy Travis Becker. To me he didn't appear to be bad enough. He was risky, check. He was unexpected, check. He was flirtatious, check. Still, it didn't perfect the image he was supposed to reflect. Quiet often I thought he was more thoughtless than bad, perhaps a little bit stupid. He did sound, the first time he met Ruby (maybe it's just me but that's what I really felt), overexcited like a young boy. As for Ruby, she was great in first half of the book but the rest, I'm not sure. During some book club discussions she seemed lost and her character just became a shadow to me.

Okay, so, overall, Honey Baby Sweetheart was a book about finding your true self and true love, a mixture of the goods and the not-real-goods. You just have to read to find out yourself.

Rating: 3/5

I'm Officially Back or Help Me Pick A Header

Hey everyone, it's me again. Finally I got my access to Blogger ^^ it's been hell of a week not getting to post anything on my blog. I miss you guys really much. But now I'm back and I'm trying to catch up with everything...it feels so great.

So during the days I was away I made some new headers for Serene Hours, 2 for fall and 2 for winter. I'm having trouble choosing between these two so I hope you guys could help me with it. Please have a look and tell me which one is your favorite.

Is it the header with the falling leaves?

...or this one with swaying flowers?

Click on the picture for clearer view. I know you won't refuse to help so comment on and let me know what you think ^^

Donut Days by Lara Zielin

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: August 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 256pp
Format: printed manuscript
Source of copy: from author - Lara Zielin

Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend's not speaking to her, a boy she's known all her life is suddenly smokin' hot and in love with her, and oh yes, her evangelical minister parents may lose their church, especially if her mother keeps giving sermons saying Adam was a hermaphrodite.

But this weekend Emma's only focused on Crispy Dream, a hot new donut franchise opening in town, where Harley bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. Writing the best feature story on the camp for the local paper might just win Emma a scholarship to attend a non- Christian college. But soon enough Emma finds the donut camp isn't quite the perfect escape from all her troubles at Living Word Redeemer.

I adored Donut Days so much. It's a story that exudes both cuteness and profundity. If you're on a reading crisis this will for sure be your cure. It got me hooked at first words and I just couldn't help reading on and on.

The idea of the donuts was just so fun. I have to admit that I've never ever tasted a single donut in my life; despite that, reading about these sweet pieces was enough to turn me into a fan of them. But it wasn't just about how yummy they were described. The thing that got me excited, also about the whole story, was the camp. It brought the book the color of happiness, pure fun and good times together with your loved ones. I bet you will be just like me, during your progress of reading wish you would actually one of those who camped in front of a donut store waiting for the fresh donuts, or simply just to join the thrill.

But well, Donut Days wasn't all about donuts. It focused on belief, which, I thought, was delivered very well. Once again, I'm not into religion and I'm not a Christian so the concept of God is rather strange to me. However, I felt comfortable reading about it in this book. The situation was enjoyable - Emma, whose parents believed strongly in God and sister happened to be exactly like an angel, didn't take the Church and the Bible very seriously. She didn't hold much hope in God at all therefore was disapproved by her own family most of the times. But the problem didn't end here. There was also a best friend who she just lost, a boy she thought she didn't love but suddenly felt so much toward and a college fund she had to work on. All of that made the story attractive. At some point Donut Days felt a little typical, like the bad side vs the good side, but it wasn't a big problem to me.

Emma reminded me of Emma in What Would Emma Do? They got the same name and they talked to God the same way and both got themselves into sticky situations. What I liked about our main character here? She was honest, strong-willed and sometimes silly in a real nice way. I enjoyed seeing her getting all goofy in front of Jake or acting all jealous of Natalie and Molly's bond.

Another book with an open ending. Not exactly what I was expecting but everyone did find their own ways to face their troubles in lives, to keep their faith in God and remain together no matter how different they were. In other words, bright lovely story.

Rating: 3.5/5

In My Mailbox (29)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

Four great books landed on my windows pane last week. Check them out ^^

Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe.

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable. They know the dirt on everybody . . . and Cass loves dirt.
She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of all of the poseurs in her school. But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Timwants her help to contact his recently deceasedmother, but Cass is less than enthusiastic.
Kicking and screaming, Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life. And she’s more surprised than anyone when she realizes that maybe some living people aren’t so bad if she’d only give them a chance.

Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson.

Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.

Presenting Concerns:

The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots).

Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.

Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?

Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive.

Diagnosis:

Psych Major Syndrome


Donut Days by Lara Zielin.

Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend's not speaking to her, a boy she's known all her life is suddenly smokin' hot and in love with her, and oh yes, her evangelical minister parents may lose their church, especially if her mother keeps giving sermons saying Adam was a hermaphrodite.
But this weekend Emma's only focused on Crispy Dream, a hot new donut franchise opening in town, where Harley bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. Writing the best feature story on the camp for the local paper might just win Emma a scholarship to attend a non- Christian college. But soon enough Emma finds the donut camp isn't quite the perfect escape from all her troubles at Living Word Redeemer.
In a fresh, funny voice, newcomer Lara Zielin offers up a mesmerizing, fast-paced narrative full of wit and insight.



Wonderful books aren’t they? They’re all published in August and September so I’m really eager to start reading them right away. I actually finished Donut Days last night and I thought it was really cute. Please look out for the review soon. Donut Days also came with a Donut coupon and Give Up The Ghost some bookmarks and a button, I’ll show you when possible.
Happy eating and reading~!


Thanks Hallie from Hyperion Books, Lara and Megan for these great YA novels. Also, my friend Debbie, for posting for me once again<3

Sunday Special (27) Yum Yum (Part 2)

More food for you guys (in the mean time when I'm away from Blogger *cries*)

Scones and Sensibilities from Lindsay Eland.



Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block.



Skinny by Ibi Kaslik.



Triple Shot Bettys In Love by Jody Gehrman.



Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy.



Sweetheart by Sara Zarr.

Enjoy yourself and have an amazing week ahead okay? Pray for me so I can come back soon :( And remember, if you spot any yummy covers, don't hesitate to share with us like last time. Thanks a lot<3

THE BOOK REVIEW CLUB AUG - After by Amy Efaw

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: August 11, 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 304

Who would leave their own baby in the trash to die?

Certainly not someone like Devon--a straight-A student, soccer player with Olympic dreams, more mature than her own mother. But desparation and panic drover her to do what most people can't even imagine. Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, charged with attempted murder. If she's tried as an adult, she faces life in prison.

Does Devon deserve that punishment? Your answer depends on whether you believe her story--that she didn't even know she was pregnant. Was she buried in a denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly obvious signs of pregnancy?


On the acknowledge page Amy claimed her book to be clique since we have too many novels on teen pregnancy that it becomes a usual thing; however, to me, After clearly stood out. Because it didn't just tell a story of a mother at an inappropriate young age, but also about one that, as we all say, is heartless enough to abandon her own baby.

When I first read the synopsis I knew that this story was going to be very intense and haunting so I braced myself for everything that could happen in this. On the contrast, I wasn't really ready for all the heaviness, anguish and the likes. Don't get me wrong, I love it a lot. After is one of the rare books which grab you at first look, force you to turn page after page and leave you with a void of dry sadness. And that's just great.

The main character, Devon, presented two so-called kinds of women - those who get involved in sex when they're definitely not prepared to deal with the consequences and ones having the heart to throw away their babies. Surprisingly, I didn't find Devon devilish or despicable at all. There's something kept in the dark from the very first words that will give you hints of what actually happened to this girl and make you want to read more and more to find out why she did such a cruel thing, to figure out if she's guilty. Or if she's worth being forgiven at all. I think the author was really brave. At first I was really worried since I had no idea if she would manage to convince readers the fact that Devon didn't even know that she was pregnant could occur in real life at all. Turned out that I was worried about nothing. The reason came out slowly, it was logic though a bit vague, accompanied by the reality that Devon and her baby had absolutely no connection.

Amy Efaw's writing was fantastic. I got carried away with the story all of the time. What I loved about it was that even though it seemed really fast and breathless, I had time to explore the whole thing step by step and didn't get confused at all. The descriptions were creepy in an excellent way, especially those about the fateful night. I also liked the flashbacks. I thought they had the strongest impression of all.

I was glad I read this book because it gave me an inside look of the juvenile detention center like how the teens lived, what they learned from the staff and how they interacted with each other. Karma was my favorite character of the bunch, she was someone who could like bring out the worst in you.

I wouldn't have rated this book higher had it not been for the sudden ending. It left me kinda shocked and disappointed. If the author had written one chapter to elaborate Devon's realization it'd have been much much nicer. I wanted to know more about the guy too since he was responsible for this situation too. And maybe it's just me but I'd love to see the mother-baby unite and some growth of affection between them.

After was truly realistic and compelling. It help me get rid of my prejudice and hatred towards irresponsible teen parents and ones who left their babies. Everyone had their own stories and hardship so we people aren't in no situation to judge, and at some point, they can be forgiven for whatever they've done.


Rating: 4/5



P.S This post is published by my friend Debbie. Unfortunately my internet is acting up (again) so I think I cannot put up any reviews/comment on your posts for one or a few days. Bare with me, I'll be back soon ^^

Waiting on wednesday ( 26 )

Idea taken from Breaking The Spine

Never Bite A Boy On The First Date by Tamara Summers.

I've got a few issues:

I'm a vampire now.
One of my classmates was found dead, with telltale fang marks.
I didn't do it! (really!)
Nobody believes me, so . . .
I'm going to have to find the real killer. I've already got three suspects. (three very cute suspects.)
One more problem: I am seriously falling for one of them . . . but what if he's the killer?


I’d love to have a bite of this book because:
1. The cover is freaking awesome. It looks mysterious but not not too dark for my taste. I never found the fangs this cool
2. The vampire is a girl and she’s involved in some investigation, which, I think, orginal. Or at least, different from other vampire stories I’ve encountered.
3. Tamara Summers books always sound cute. I want to try one ^^


See if you could resist biting a hot boy on first date this Sept 19th 2009

In My Mailbox (28)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

It's been a kind of lousy week but I have my new books to keep me up and happy. Here they are~!

TMI by Sarah Quigley.

Friends call Becca the Overshare Queen, but her tendency for TMI never seemed like a problem to her until she blabs about her sweet band-geek boyfriend's sloppy kisses—and gets dumped! Realizing it may be better to resist the temptation to overshare face-to-face, Becca decides to blog anonymously about everything instead. On her blog, Too Much Information, Becca unleashes her alter ego, Bella. Bella tells it like it is . . . though perhaps with a bit more drama. After all, no one's going to read it, right???



Me, My Elf and I by Heather Swain.

It's not often you see an elf in the middle of Brooklyn, let alone a tall, blond, gorgeous elf in the middle of one of the most prestigious performing arts high schools in the country. And yet, that's just where Zephyr Addler finds herself: smack dab in the middle of a bustling New York City school, worlds away from the secluded woodland community she knows so well. But Zephyr knows that she has to figure out how to live in the world. And dress in the world. Thanks to a little friendly advice from her new friend Mercedes, Zephyr starts to get the hang of Brooklyn. That is, until Zephyr snags a role in a commercial, beating out the most popular girl in school, Bella Dartagnan. Now with Bella and her friends out to get her, can Zephyr out-maneuver the mean girls (and catch the eye of a certain cute boy) without losing herself?


Living On Impulse by Cara Haycak.

Mia Morrow is impulsive, plain and simple. While her friends are concerned with grades and colleges, Mia would rather focus on the things that make her happy— like chasing boys or snatching something off a department store shelf. No big deal, right? But then Mia gets caught shoplifting, and her thoughtless behavior doesn't just push her friends away, it gets her into a lot of trouble, too. In this eye-opening tale of friendships, family, and negative impulses, Cara Haycak subtly shows that the power to heal is within all of us, and it almost always starts with forgiveness.

Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani.

When fourteen-year-old Viola is sent from her beloved Brooklyn to boarding school in Indiana for ninth grade, she overcomes her initial reservations as she makes friends with her roommates, goes on a real date, and uses the unsettling ghost she keeps seeing as the subject of a short film—her first.






Two fun books, one intense and one thought-provoking. Great isn't it? Have you guys read any of these? Which one do you want me to review first? Voice your thought ^^


Thanks Sara from Penguin Kelly - Adriana's assistant for sending the books to me.

Sunday Special (26) Coffee Chat With Suzanne Selfors

I was supposed to post this on July 31st but I saved this special post for a special Sunday :) Needless to introduce our guest to day since she's known (and loved) by all of you already. It's Suzanne Selfors, the mother of Saving Juliet as well as Coffeehouse Angel, a super duper cute, fairytale-like novel which was released 2 days ago. For those of you who hasn't picked up the book, go and grab a copy yourself right away. But first, here's a little chat with our lovely author...



-Hi Suzanne, welcome to Serenehours! Firstly, I think the readers want to know what inspired you to write the book and How you came up with its title. So why don't you tell them a little bit about that?
I've always wanted to own a coffeehouse. And I spend a great deal of time in them, writing. I write best when I'm surrounded by lots of noise and activity. My favorite coffeehouse is in the town of Poulsbo, this little Scandinavian town in Washington, and it was the inspiration for Nordby and Anna's Old World Scandinavian Coffeehouse. The book was orginally called Coffeehouse Girl. But because in some ways, Katrina takes on an "angel" role (I'm not giving anything away), we changed the title.

-That's a cool change I guess. So...off all the characters, which one do you feel most related? If you could play any of them for a day, who would you choose?
Well, this is a tough question because as a writer, little bits of me show up in many of my characters. It just always turns out that way. But I'd have to chose Malcolm, the messenger angel. How could I turn down the chance to be an angel for a day?

-Katrina in the book did a good deed and was rewarded by angel although she didn't want to. Have you ever done something good and was unexpectedly repaid?
I'm a firm believer in Karma, in that if you surround yourself with positive energy and treat people with respect, then you will draw that kind of energy to yourself.

-Katrina also has, for a long time, been stuck, she didn't even know what she wanted to do or what she was really good at. Have you ever found yourself in her shoes when you were a teenagers?
I was exactly like Katrina. I had no idea what to do with myself. And when I went to college I was still lost. For most of my adult life, I would call myself a dabbler. A little of this, a little of that. I tried my hand at many jobs, from selling clothes to working in a TV station. But I always wanted to write. Always. It took me a very long time, (age 39), before I got up the courage to pursue that dream.

-As for Malcolm, I found him a really interesting and charming character but somehow it's hard to believe that he's really an angel. Personally, do you believe in angels, especially ones in disguise?
Well, I definitely believe that there are things in this world we will never be able to explain. And I definitely love the idea of angels. I would most certainly love to meet one. Malcolm's character was very fun to create because I drew from many traditions. From the belief that there is a hierarchy of angels (archangels, guardian angels, messenger angels,), from the tradition in painting where angels have halos, and even from one of the earliest messengers, Hermes, the Greek Messenger God. Malcolm is my own mixture, and I hope that each reader will interpret him in his/her own way.

-I see that the book delivered a lot of messages on forgiveness. What's your view on it?
It's often the most difficult thing to do --to forgive. I have struggled with it myself on many occassions. What you learn, as you get older, is that it takes a whole lot more energy to be pissed at someone than it does to let things go.

-Let's talk about your upcoming books. Are you working on any? If possible, we'd love to hear a bit about it.
I am hard at work on my next teen novel. It should be released next summer. Many of your readers might not know that I also write middle grade novels. I just released one called Fortune's Magic Farm. They can visit my website and watch the beautiful animated book trailer for the book. I'm very proud of it.
www.suzanneselfors.com

Or they can go directly to YouTube and watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FsRq_ixHYE

That's great! I know everyone will be looking forward to it.




So thanks Suzanne really much for paying a visit to my site today. We had great time altogether I hope. Also, as some of you may know, Suzanne has asked the readers for help with finding the model on Coffeehouse Angel cover. So if you have any slightest idea about who she is or how to contact her, please drop Suzanne a note ^^


Thank y'all in advance. Have a great weekend~!